The Search For A Mate
Chapter 38
"I need a favor, fox." Hiei had Kurama's interest now. "You know you only have to ask, Hiei." He seemed a little nervous. As if the favor he was about to ask would embarrass him. "I need to go shopping, fox. I want you to go with me." Kurama sat back in his chair, his green eyes wide. "Wouldn't Beth be the better choice for that?" "No."
Now Kurama's curiosity was piqued. "What is it you want to buy that you need me to accompany you?" Hiei looked uncomfortable. "A ring." He mumbled under his breath. "Did you say a ring?" Hiei sighed. "Yes, fox. I said a ring." Now Kurama was amused. "What kind of ring, Hiei?" Hiei growled his annoyance. It really irritated him to know he provided the fox his entertainment. It happened all too frequently.
"Rayna bears a demon mating mark. I want her to have the human one as well." Kurama hid his smile. "But Hiei, humans don't have mating marks." Hiei pushed away from his desk. "The damn ring. The one that you gave Beth. The one they all have. Everyone but Rayna." He raked a hand through his hair. "Rayna wants to go back to the Ningenkai for a while. I want all those idiot ningens to know she is mine." He growled possessively.
He sat back down. A little calmer now. "She likes most things human. I think it would please her." Kurama decided not to tease him. "Understandable. But why do you need me?" Hiei looked at his desk and then back to Kurama. "I don't know anything about human jewelry. I want you to help me pick one out. Beth was very pleased with your choice for her." Kurama nodded to his friend. "I'll be happy to help. Will you tell Rayna you are going back with us?" "No. She would want to go with us. I told her I couldn't get away for a couple of days. I want to surprise her."
Kurama stood up. "I'll let Beth know you will be borrowing me for a while. You can meet me at the house. We'll go from there." Hiei stopped him before he got to the door. "Thanks Kurama." Kurama gave his friend a smile. "Her happiness is important to you isn't it?" "Yes." Kurama nodded. Such a simple word. Yet it conveyed so much. He closed the door and went to find his mate. She would be most interested in this latest development.
Hiei finished up his work and made arrangements so that his absence the next two days would seem like an assignment. Mukuro had agreed to cover for him once she knew why. She had teased him as he expected, but she wore a contemplative look when he left her office. Making his way to the stairs, he now had to make his lie believable to Rayna.
He opened the door to his chambers. It was dark and quiet. Rayna had not returned yet. He wondered where she was. It was almost dinner time and he had wanted to talk with her before he had to share her with everyone else. He closed the door and headed back downstairs to search for her.
All conversation ceased as Hiei pushed open the door to the kitchens. There were murmurs of "My lord" or whispers of "He never comes in here. What does he want?" He scanned the area and satisfied that Rayna was not here, he left without a word. Conversation resumed, but a far cry from the one he had interrupted.
He checked the gardens. The laundry. The storage rooms. The wine cellar. He was becoming concerned when he turned a corner to the office wing of the castle. There was light coming from the office next to his. The one he had designated as Rayna's. It wasn't scheduled to be ready until the day after tomorrow. It still needed fresh paint and the furniture moved in.
Curious, because he knew the workers would have already stopped for the day, he headed for the door. He heard Rayna's musical laughter and pushed open the door. Surprise would have been an understatement if he had to describe his reaction. The workers were indeed gone. Rayna and Tandar were covered in paint splatters. She working on one wall, he on another.
They didn't notice Hiei until they heard the door close. Tandar went to his knee in salute. Almost comical considering he still held the paintbrush. Rayna smiled and put hers down grabbing a cloth to wipe her hands. She walked up to Hiei and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "If you're looking for me, then it's much later than I intended to work."
He smirked at her. "You do know that we have workmen assigned to do this, don't you?" She gave a childish grin. "I couldn't wait. So I decided to help. Once I found out where my office was, I had to see it. When I found out all it needed was paint and furniture, well… I figured, how hard can it be? I watched for a while, making everyone nervous. Then I grabbed a brush. Then I had to fight to keep it. They didn't want to let me do anything." She grinned her evil grin. "Then I threatened them with you and they let me have the brush and the wall all to myself."
Tandar was laughing. "She was very determined, my lord." Hiei shook his head smiling. "Ok. Playtime is over. Let's go get you cleaned up and presentable. If we don't hurry, we'll be late for dinner." He reached out and touched the end of her nose. "You have paint all over you. I believe the objective was to get most of it on the walls." She crossed her eyes looking down her nose at his finger. She grinned and swatted him. She took off the apron she'd been wearing and laid it aside. "Tandar, I'll meet you here in the morning at nine. Ok?" He bowed. "Yes my lady." He still wore an amused smile as they left the office and went their separate ways.
She followed Hiei back to their chambers. "I do hope you don't intend to forbid me doing what my father would deem 'manual labor'." Hiei snorted. "As long as it does not put you in danger or overtire you, you may work as you please. I am not your father. Work is good for you. I trust that Tandar will not allow you to do anything you should not. And using me as a threat will not work on him. He knows I will agree with him."
A quick shower and a change of clothes later, Hiei and Rayna entered the dining room. They were the last to arrive. The extra guest at the table stood and bowed to Hiei as they entered. "Good evening, Lord Hiei." Hiei nodded to him. "Shura." Hiei seated Rayna and then took the seat beside her. Yukina and Kuwabara sat across from them. Yukina's crimson eyes met her brother's identical ones. "Hello Hiei. I was hoping to see you before we went back home." "Hn. I expected to see you at breakfast." She blushed. "Then perhaps you have not been mated long enough." Kuwabara choked. Rayna laughed.
After dinner, no one was in any hurry to leave the table. It would be their last night together for a while. Yusuke and his family were returning to Tourin tomorrow. They still had to straighten out the hoax of Yusuke's death. Kurama and his family were leaving for the Ningenkai after breakfast. Kuwabara and Yukina were going on a short vacation after the stress of their separation. It had been Genkai's suggestion and she was keeping the kids.
Tara led Shura out to the gardens. They walked in silence for a time. Tara was the first to break the silence. "We're leaving in the morning. I don't know when we'll be back." She looked up into his eyes. "I'm going to miss you." He stroked her cheek with a thumb. "I talked with Koenma. I will be allowed to visit." Tara smiled in her excitement. "Oh Shura. There are so many things to show you. So many places to see. We can…"
He pressed a finger to her lips to still the outpouring. "For now I am limited to the temple grounds and your family's home. Perhaps Koenma will expand the boundaries at some time in the future. I am quite adept at the necessary illusion spell, but for the time being, I will settle for what I can get." He replaced his finger with his lips. He pulled back before he lost control and took the kiss too far. He would not do anything to betray her father's trust. She was too important to him. That meant staying on her father's good side.
"I have to leave. Father expects me on the training field early in the morning. With Kurama gone, I am the one he spars with in preparation for the upcoming tournament." She nodded. "I have school during the week. Make your visits on the weekends. We'll have more time together." "Ok. Tell your father that I will contact him before I visit so there is no inconvenience." "I will."
He tilted her chin up to kiss her again. Then he brushed the tears away with his thumbs. "No sadness. I will see you soon." She sniffed and smiled. She touched her hand to his cheek. "It will still seem like forever." He put his hand over hers and turned to press his lips to it. "I will bring you a gift when I visit." "Really? What?" He chuckled at her. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, now would it?" She pouted. He laughed harder. "That doesn't work on me. You'll just have to wait." She mumbled under her breath. "It always works on Father." "Did you ever consider that perhaps it works on your father because he allows it to?"
Tara was still considering Shura's words long after he had gone. It was true that she and her mother got around her father on a great many subjects. But she did know that he always stood firm if it was a matter of their safety. No matter how much her mother might argue, he never gave an inch. She realized that she didn't really know the demon side of her father very well.
She'd heard the stories. The ones she knew she wasn't supposed to hear. But she had never really seen him fight beyond the friendly sparring with her uncles. She very seldom saw his demon form, and then only if they were training. She'd been four and struggling with her own transformation before she saw it the first time. Maybe it was past time that she asked her mother some questions. Or maybe Genkai. She had fought with him in the dark tournament.
It was late when Hiei and Rayna got ready for bed. She pulled a t-shirt from the drawer. Before she could put it on, he shook his head at her. "It will only be something else for the maid to pick up in the morning." Rayna blushed but put the shirt back in the drawer. She had discovered he preferred her to sleep naked. She also discovered he had slept in his boxers out of consideration for her. He preferred to sleep naked.
She didn't really mind. She sometimes got cold at night and he was warm. He always held her close to him when they slept. Even if sleeping was all they did. It made her feel safe. And wanted. Even if he had not said it, she felt loved too. He held the covers up for her to slip beneath them. Then he wrapped her in his arms. He nuzzled her hair. "I have to leave tomorrow. I will be gone a couple of days. When I get back, I will take you to the Ningenkai."
She turned to face him. "Is it a mission? Can I go with you?" "No. I'm sorry. You can't. I will be traveling alone and fast." She frowned. "And I would slow you down. I understand." He ran a finger down her cheek. "I will miss you while I am gone." She smiled. It wasn't 'I love you', but it was close. She refused to be sad. She knew there were times he would have to be gone. He was an important lord. He also still accepted missions for the Reikai occasionally.
She could stay busy for two days. Then when he got back she would have him all to herself once they got back to their apartment in the Ningenkai. She snuggled closer to him. Christmas was in a couple of months. She wondered if she could persuade him to spend it in their apartment. She knew that both Yukina and Beth were due to deliver their babies just before Christmas. Surely he would want to be there to greet his new family members.
Her thoughts were interrupted by questing fingers and soft lips tickling her throat. He rolled her to her back and claimed her lips as his fingers continued to stroke and tease her sensitive flesh. It wasn't long before she had no thoughts beyond the pleasure he was giving her. She drifted to sleep in his arms much, much later in the night.
Hiei did not sleep as easily. His thoughts as usual were a jumbled mess when it came to his mate. He had been sincere when he told her he would miss her. He smiled as he remembered finding her in her office covered in paint. Sometimes she was like a child. Other times she was all woman. She was an enigma, his mate. One he was sure he would spend centuries attempting to solve. He was also wise enough to know it was something he would probably never accomplish. But he would have fun trying.
He thought about what kind of ring he would get her. He didn't want the red stone that Beth wore. He forgot what it was called. The detective had recently replaced his mate's little band with the ring he'd originally had made for her. He'd called it a diamond and it was big. But it was clear. He wanted color. His sister's stone was pink. While it fit his sister, he couldn't see Rayna wearing pink. He knew the oaf got pink because it was Yukina's favorite color. He frowned. He didn't even know what Rayna's favorite color was.
She knew his favorite color was black. She also knew other colors he liked. Because she had asked. He realized he never really asked her what she liked or didn't. Had she noticed? Did she think that meant he didn't care what she liked? His frown deepened. She had chosen blue for their bedroom in the apartment. Was that because she liked it? Or because she knew he liked it? He didn't know. He had taken it for granted that she liked it. What if she had only been trying to please him?
He would need to try harder to please her. He looked down to her sleeping form and smirked. At least out of the bedroom anyway. He buried his nose in her hair inhaling the scent that reminded him of his favorite food. He closed his eyes to sleep. His last conscious thought that of how to ask her what her favorite color was without making her suspicious.
The next morning was a bustle of packing and saying goodbyes. Rayna went to each of her friends saying goodbye and asking if she could help in any way. Beth grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room. "I'm almost done, but I could use your help for a minute." Kurama looked up from his own packing. Why hadn't she mentioned needing help to him? Rayna looked around. "What can I do to help?" Beth turned her back for a moment. Kurama saw her struggle with something.
She turned back to Rayna and grabbed her hand shoving her ring onto it. "It's loose and the last time it slipped off, I thought I was never going to find it. If you'll just hang onto it until I get this one packed I'd appreciate it." Rayna was confused, but it was a simple enough request. Kurama was even more confused. Beth had never lost her ring to his knowledge. And since her pregnancy, if anything it was tight, not loose.
Several minutes later, Beth closed the last suitcase. "Thanks Rayna. I really appreciate you taking care of it for me." "No problem. Do you need anything else?" Beth shook her head. "No. I think we're done. I finished packing the kits' things earlier. Thank you again." Rayna nodded and left the room.
Kurama sat down on the bed. "You want to tell me what that was all about?" Beth sat down next to him. "One full size smaller than mine. So a six." Kurama chuckled. "You're just as devious as ever. I wondered if Hiei knew what size she would need." Beth giggled. "Of course he doesn't. He's not you. He's come a very long way, but he's still Hiei. If it was a weapon, he could tell you down to the last centimeter and ounce it's dimensions and weight. But anything human? Feminine? Jewelry? Not if his life depended on it."
Mukuro sighed as she walked the halls to her office. Peace and quiet at last. They were all gone. She smirked. She was going to miss all the kids, even if they were loud. Perhaps there was such a thing as too much quiet. She looked forward to the sound of her heir's kids disturbing the peace of the castle. She hoped it wouldn't be too long in coming.
To be continued….